Page 10

Ella closed the gap between them and tilted her face to his. “I’ll also have some friends.”

Not friends. Troublemakers.

Her vanilla scent filled his nostrils, making them flare, and his cock pushed against his zipper, wanting to feel her heat.

“Ella,” he warned.

“Why bring me here, Mack? Why did you want me here?” Her voice husky and full of sexual innuendo.

As her hand lifted, on its journey to land on his thick pec, Mack grabbed it. His hand cupped the back of her neck and pushed her back against the wall.

“Stop!” He ordered.

Ella gasped.

“I need you to stop.” His growl was low and dangerous even to his own ears.

Her panting had him closing his eyes, forcing back the wolf who wanted to escape and play with the female. It was his cock who was the most dominant, though. Painfully it swelled further, and he was sure he’d find precum dripping from the end.

“What if I don’t?”

Fuck.

Deep in his mind, a small voice asked, what if...what if he tasted her once? If he tore off her clothes here and now, bent her over, and pressed his fingers into her greedy cunt.

Then, as he sucked on his juice-dipped fingers, slapped her ass and thrust into her.

As if she meant nothing but a wild fuck.

She’d scream.

He’d come.

Then as his come dripped down her thighs, he’d put her in his Jeep and drive her home. They would agree it was a one off and go back to being friends.

It could work.

No, it wouldn’t. Mack knew, just from imaging it, that he’d want more of her. To tie her wrists to his bed and spend hours licking every inch of her. Biting her clit and watching her agonize when he took her to the edge of her orgasm only to make her wait.

But God, when she did...she would be so fucking gorgeous.

“Ella,” Mack rasped. “I am not the same male who left. You don’t...you don’t know who I am anymore.”

Her eyes flickered and pain lined those deep brown globes, sending shards of regret through him.

“I know you,” she whispered.

Mine.

He closed his eyes, hating that she yet again thought he was rejecting her. Wishing he could tell her just how much he longed to hold her in his arms as he slept.

Goddamn you, Dad.

Talk about the worst parenting advice ever.

Losing control wasn’t an option, he had to force back his desire and the scalding chemistry between them. When he glanced away, only then opening his eyes, Ella tried to rip her hand out his grasp.

“I know who you are, Mack Mazzini. The question is, do you know who I am?”

Of course he fucking did.

He’d watched every move she’d made since she was fifteen. Hell, earlier, if he was honest and not being creepy.

Watched her body grow from a girl’s into a woman’s.

Watched her bite her bottom lip when he’d torn off his T-shirt. Felt her body against his when he gave her a ride home on his motorcycle when he was twenty-one and had to jerk off for about seven hundred hours.

Mack had felt pride when she graduated and then again when he saw her company website go live.

Helped her move into her apartment and then drove away, wishing he could stay there to make sure she was safe.

Then had turned around and slept in his car two houses down where she couldn’t see him.

For a whole fucking week.

When he glanced back to reply, the expression on her face almost took his breath away. There was pure sex written in them.

And he was going to reject her all over again.

To protect her.

To protect the wolves and obey the king.

Mine.

His mind flashed back to the team meeting today and the reality that things were dire. Goddamn it all. Never had there been a graver time. If they were all going to die in this fucking war, then perhaps...

No!

Just one taste...

Mack lowered, tugging her to him, and the world burst into flames. Lashing of white-hot fire exploded his senses as Ella’s lips parted and his tongue swept inside.

Hungrily, he consumed her, as he’d imagined all his life. She tasted of alcohol, but still so sweet as she gripped his arms, digging her sharp nails into him.

Mack wrapped an arm around her, pressing her harder against him as she moaned. His other hand threaded through her hair roughly and his own groan escaped as his cock found its place in the spot between her thighs.

Ella’s legs lifted naturally, and he wrapped them around his body,

“Oh fuck.” Her lips shuddered against his.

Jesus, fuck .

He had no idea he could want a woman this much. He’d been fucking like an adrenaline-fueled bunny for months since becoming a wolf, but this— this! —was insane.

It was like he’d die if he didn’t get inside her immediately. She was like that first sip of morning coffee. That very first piece of candy, knowing you’d finish the pack. The draw on a cigarette.

Sinful.

But also enticing and impossible to deny.

That now, you couldn’t live without it.

Suddenly Mack felt his wolf slip out, his control weakening, and a claw grazed her ass, ripping through the denim.

“Ouch.” Ella jumped in his arms.

Mack froze.

Shit.

Removing his mouth from her neck and the velvet skin covering her vein, Mack straightened and locked their gaze.

“Did you rip my jeans?”

What was he doing?

Forcing his wolf back, he lowered Ella to the ground.

The sensation of her feminine curves sliding over his cock a painful goodbye.

“Yeah, fuck. Sorry.” He ran a palm over his face.

“We don’t need to stop,” Ella reached for him, but he grabbed her wrist.

He was on thin ice, and if he didn’t stop, he could hurt her. Fuck, even kill her. For all he knew, Ella wasn’t strong enough to shift into a wolf.

Mack would rather care for her from a distance than see her life taken from her because he couldn’t keep his cock in his pants.

“This can’t happen again.” Her cheeks turned deep red as he shook his head. “It...we can’t.”

“Are you mated?” Ella gasped.

You are my mate .

Lying would be easy, but Mack would never do that to her. His intention to keep her close and safe—but not too close—was a terrible plan. In one night, he’d already had his dick up against her pussy.

Jesus.

“No. I have a job to do, Ella. I need to get back to work.”

“You...I’m sorry, you need to get back to work? After kissing me like that?” She blinked, looking wild and offended.

But alive.

He dropped her hands and stepped away. “Yes.”

Staring at him bewildered for a moment longer, Ella then glanced around the room and gathered herself while he cursed silently.

When she looked at him again, he tried to unpack all the emotion within her beautiful brown eyes.

“This was a mistake. All of it.” Ella stated, and as he ground his molars together, he forced himself to keep his response silent.

The one that said, the fuck it is. You are mine and no man or male will ever touch you the way I just have. Your burning, hot pussy is mine.

“I’ll drive you home,” he said instead.

“You will not.” Ella glanced around. “Where is—my handbag is at the bar. I need to—”

“You are not going back—”

Her hand flattened on his pec. Forcefully. Which surprised the hell out of him. He’d never witnessed this spitfire Ella version before.

It was damn sexy.

In one second, he could flip her onto her back on his bed and demand she fight him. God, imagine how hard he’d come.

Focus.

“Choose a lane, Mack Mazzini. Because clearly the one labeled ‘Protecting Ella’ is not the one you belong to anymore. Or ‘Kissing Ella.’ Or...‘Anything Ella,’” she snapped, and his lips fought not to twitch.

His cock did, though.

“I am leaving, and you are staying right here.”

Over my dead body.

With her head held high, Mack watched Ella spin on her heels and stride to the door.

Then leave.

Clearly, the alcohol had metabolized quickly through her system because she hadn’t wobbled once. And her ass...hot as fuck!

Are you coming for this training session or not? Ari telepathed him.

Fuck.

Mack couldn’t go after her if he’d wanted to. No one stood up a Moretti, not Ari Moretti.

Mack let out a curse.

Palming his cock over his pants, he instructed it to settle down. When his wolf let out a rebellious moan, Mack rolled his eyes.

“She’s gone buddy. That’s as close as we’ll ever get, so you may want to file those memories away for a rainy day.”

Or rather, a dry spell.

Mack teleported to the training center.